The security roles of campus police forces and municipal law enforcement inevitably intersect, and in many situations the two groups collaborate effectively. But the fatal shooting last month of a 43-year-old man by a University of Cincinnati police officer who was conducting an off-campus traffic stop has highlighted some of the complexities of that relationship, as well as the often-murky boundaries that define their respective authorities. To alleviate confusion, most municipal and campus law-enforcement agencies have signed agreements, known as memoranda of understanding, that vary in scope but usually spell out general protocols for taking on cases and leading investigations. One benefit of the agreements is that they require all parties to come to the same table and have a thoughtful conversation, says Steven J. Healy, managing partner of Margolis Healy, a consulting firm on college security.

August 3, 2015 ・ From Chronicle of Higher Education